Non-slip attachable thermally-insulating armrest cover for outdoor seating

ABSTRACT

An armrest cover is disclosed for an item of outdoor furniture, such as a chair, a chaise lounge, a bench, or a loveseat. The armrest cover includes: an elongated weather resistant and thermally insulating cushioning pad, the elongated cushioning pad being shaped and sized so as to cover a top surface of an armrest of the outdoor furniture, the elongated cushioning pad having an outer layer made from or bearing attached non-slip material capable of substantially reducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest of the outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad. An attachment tie or an attachment strap is attached at each end of the elongated cushioning pad, each attachment tie or attachment strap being of a length needed to wrap around the armrest so as to form an attaching structure under the armrest.

FIELD

This invention relates to outdoor seating, and particularly to armrestcovers suitable for outdoor seating, such as chairs, chaise lounges,benches, and other patio furniture with armrests.

BACKGROUND

People enjoy sitting outside in the sun on chairs, chaise lounges, andother patio furniture. Such patio furniture often has armrests.

Patio furniture must be capable of enduring the elements, such as rain,heat, and intense direct sunlight. Consequently, such patio furniture isoften made of very durable material that can resist degradation by theelements, such as iron, steel, or other alloys or metals. Such metalfurniture is often covered partially by seating cushions that cover theseat and the back of the chair, lounge, or bench.

When outdoor furniture is subjected to direct sun for extended periodsof time, the metal of the furniture absorbs the heat and becomes warm orhot to some extent. The longer the direct sun impacts the metal, thewarmer the metal becomes, which can become so hot it becomes painful totouch. This effect is even more rapid and pronounced if the metal ispainted black, due to the tendency of black objects to absorb heat morethan other colors. Nevertheless, patio furniture is often painted indark colors, including black. Consequently, the armrests of such patiofurniture can get quite hot during the day after sufficient exposure todirect sunshine.

When a person sits in a patio chair and finds that the arm rests are toohot to rest on with their arms in contact with the armrests, the personwill attempt to cover each armrest with a towel, or a garment, such as aspare shirt, etc. Sometimes it is not possible to find a towel or agarment. Even if garments and/or towels are found, when used as armrestcovers they make the outdoor seating look sloppy, and also do not offersufficient protection against the heat. They can also slide off thearmrest if someone sitting in the chair leans against the armrestso-covered.

SUMMARY

An armrest cover for patio furniture or other outdoor seating units isprovided that enables a person to sit and rest their arm on the armrestof the patio furniture without concern that they might burn their arm,while also providing cushioning that stays in place on the arm rests.The armrest cover can be made from weather-resistant material that iscolor coordinated and/or pattern coordinated with existing seat cushionsand/or back cushions of the patio furniture. Each armrest cover isattachable to an armrest in a convenient and attractive manner.

A general aspect of the invention is an armrest cover for an outdoorseating unit, such as a patio chair, a chaise lounge, a bench, a loveseat, or a sofa.

The armrest cover includes: an elongated cushioning pad having a firstend and a second end, the elongated cushioning pad being shaped andsized so as to cover a top surface of an armrest of an outdoor seatingunit; two attachment ties, a first attachment tie being attached to theelongated cushioning pad near the first end of the elongated cushioningpad, and a second attachment tie being attached to the elongatedcushioning pad near the second end of the elongated cushioning pad, eachattachment tie being of a length needed to wrap around the armrest andform an attaching knot under the armrest; and a non-slip pad bonded tothe bottom of the elongated cushioning pad capable of substantiallyreducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest whena user of the outdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongatedcushioning pad.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad has a top surfacesuited for presenting ornamentation. In further embodiments, theornamentation is pre-selected to match ornamentation on cushions alreadyavailable on outdoor seating units. In other further embodiments, theornamentation matches ornamentation on an outdoor seating cushion soldwith the armrest cover.

In some embodiments, each attachment tie includes a non-slip coating ona surface that makes contact with an underside of the armrest so as tofurther reduce slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along thearmrest of the outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seatingunit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad includes: an innercushioning material that resists mold and mildew; and an outer layerthat resist heat and light damage.

Another general aspect of the invention is an armrest cover for anoutdoor seating unit, where the armrest cover includes: an elongatedcushioning pad having a first end and a second end, the elongatedcushioning pad being shaped and sized so as to cover a top surface of anarmrest of an outdoor seating unit; two attachment straps, a firstattachment strap being attached to the elongated cushioning pad near thefirst end of the elongated cushioning pad, and a second attachment strapbeing attached to the elongated cushioning pad near the second end ofthe elongated cushioning pad, each end of each attachment strap bearinga patch of one of a hook and loop material, and being of a length neededto wrap around the armrest so as to form a hook and loop materialconnection under the armrest; and a non-slip pad bonded to the bottom ofthe elongated cushioning pad capable of substantially reducing slippageof the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest when a user of theoutdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad has a top surfacesuited for presenting ornamentation. In further embodiments, theornamentation is pre-selected to match ornamentation on cushions alreadyavailable on outdoor seating units. In other further embodiments, theornamentation matches ornamentation on an outdoor seating cushion soldwith the armrest cover.

In some embodiments, each attachment strap includes a non-slip coatingon a surface that makes contact with an underside of the armrest so asto further reduce slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along thearmrest of the outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seatingunit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad.

In some embodiments, the outdoor seating unit is one of: a chair, achaise lounge, a bench, a love seat, a sofa.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad includes: an innercushioning material that resists mold and mildew; and an outer layerthat resist heat and light damage.

Another general aspect of the invention is an armrest cover for anoutdoor seating unit, the armrest cover including: an elongatedcushioning pad having a first end and a second end, the elongatedcushioning pad being shaped and sized so as to cover a top surface of anarmrest of an outdoor seating unit, the elongated cushioning pad havingan outer layer made from a non-slip material capable of substantiallyreducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest ofthe outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seating unit restsan arm on the elongated cushioning pad; and two attachment ties orattachment straps, a first attachment tie or attachment strap beingattached to the elongated cushioning pad near the first end of theelongated cushioning pad, and a second attachment tie or attachmentstrap being attached to the elongated cushioning pad near the second endof the elongated cushioning pad, each attachment tie or attachment strapbeing of a length needed to wrap around the armrest so as to form anattaching structure under the armrest of the outdoor seating unit.

In some embodiments, the attaching structure is one of a knot or a hookand loop material connection.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad has a top surfacesuited for presenting ornamentation, and the ornamentation ispre-selected to match ornamentation on cushions already available onoutdoor seating units. In further embodiments, the ornamentation matchesornamentation on an outdoor seating cushion sold with the armrest cover.

In some embodiments, each attachment tie or attachment strap includes anon-slip coating on a surface that makes contact with an underside ofthe armrest so as to further reduce slippage of the elongated cushioningpad along the armrest of the outdoor seating unit when a user of theoutdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad.

In some embodiments, the elongated cushioning pad includes: an innercushioning material that resists mold and mildew; and an outer layerthat resist heat and light damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by referenceto the Detailed Description, in conjunction with the following figures,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of Outdoor Seating Armrest Coverseach having two attachment ties, the pair of Outdoor Seating ArmrestCovers being attached to a respective pair of arm rests of an outdoorchaise lounge.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the top, front, and right side ofan exemplary embodiment of the Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover, theattachment ties being in an unattached state and hanging downward fromthe bottom of the elongated cushioning pad.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom, front, and left side ofthe Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover of FIG. 2, showing the front and rearattachment ties hanging downward from the bottom of the elongatedcushioning pad, and showing a non-slip pad bonded to the bottom of theelongated cushioning pad.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of one of the Outdoor Seating ArmrestCovers of FIG. 1 showing the front attachment tie tied around thearmrest of the chaise lounge, thereby securing the elongated cushioningpad to the armrest.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of Outdoor Seating Armrest Coverseach having two attachment straps that close with hook and loop materialsuch as VELCRO®, the pair of Outdoor Seating Armrest Covers beingattached to a respective pair of arm rests of an outdoor chaise lounge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the top, front, and right side ofan exemplary embodiment of the Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover, theattachment straps being in an unattached state and hanging downward fromthe bottom of the elongated cushioning pad.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom, front, and left side ofthe Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover of FIG. 6, showing the front and rearattachment straps hanging downward from the bottom of the elongatedcushioning pad, and showing a non-slip pad bonded to the bottom of theelongated cushioning pad.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of one of the Outdoor Seating ArmrestCovers of FIG. 5 showing the front attachment strap secured around thearmrest of the chaise lounge, thereby securing the elongated cushioningpad to the armrest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an outdoor chaise lounge10 is shown, wherein a pair of Outdoor Seating Armrest Covers 12, 14 isshown, one armrest cover being attached to each arm 16, 18 respectivelyof the chaise lounge 10. Each armrest cover 12, 14 has a pair ofattachment ties 13, 15 attached to an elongated cushioning pad 17, 19,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, the Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover 12 is shown,having the pair of attachment ties 13, which consist of a frontattachment tie 20, and a rear attachment tie 22, the front and rearattachment ties 20, 22 being in an unattached state and hanging downwardfrom the bottom of the elongated cushioning pad 17.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the Outdoor SeatingArmrest Cover 12 of FIG. 2, showing the front and rear attachment ties20, 22 hanging downward from the bottom of the elongated cushioning pad17, and showing a non-slip pad 30 bonded to the bottom of the elongatedcushioning pad 17.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of the left Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover14 of FIG. 1 showing the front attachment tie 15 tied around the armrest18 of the chaise lounge 10, thereby securing the elongated cushioningpad 19 to the armrest 18.

With reference to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an outdoor chaise lounge10 is shown, wherein a pair of Outdoor Seating Armrest Covers 12, 14 isshown, one armrest cover being attached to each arm 16, 18 respectivelyof the chaise lounge 10. Each armrest cover 12, 14 has a pair ofattachment straps that close with hook and loop material such as VELCRO®(not visible in FIG. 5) attached to an elongated cushioning pad 17, 19respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6, the Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover 12 is shown,having front attachment strap 60 and rear attachment strap 62, frontattachment strap 60 having hook portion 64 and loop portion 65, and rearattachment strap 62 having hook portion 66 and loop portion 67. Thefront and rear attachment straps 60, 62 are shown in an unattached stateand hanging downward from the bottom of the elongated cushioning pad 17.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the Outdoor SeatingArmrest Cover 12 of FIG. 6, showing the front and rear attachment straps60, 62 hanging downward from the bottom of the elongated cushioning pad17, and showing a non-slip pad 30 bonded to the bottom of the elongatedcushioning pad 17.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of the left Outdoor Seating Armrest Cover14 of FIG. 5 showing the front attachment strap 60 wrapped snugly aroundthe armrest 18 of the chaise lounge 10 such that the hook portion 64securely mates with the loop portion 65, thereby attaching the elongatedcushioning pad 19 to the armrest 18.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventionas claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limitthe invention, except as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An armrest cover for an outdoor seating unit, thearmrest cover comprising: an elongated cushioning pad having a first endand a second end, the elongated cushioning pad being shaped and sized soas to cover a top surface of an armrest of an outdoor seating unit; apair of attachment ties, a first attachment tie being attached to theelongated cushioning pad near the first end of the elongated cushioningpad, and a second attachment tie being attached to the elongatedcushioning pad near the second end of the elongated cushioning pad, eachattachment tie being of a length needed to form an attaching knot underthe armrest of the outdoor seating unit; and a non-slip pad bonded tothe bottom of the elongated cushioning pad capable of substantiallyreducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest ofthe outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seating unit restsan arm on the elongated cushioning pad.
 2. The armrest cover for theoutdoor seating unit of claim 1, wherein the elongated cushioning padhas a top surface suited for presenting ornamentation.
 3. The armrestcover for the outdoor seating unit of claim 2, wherein the ornamentationis pre-selected to match ornamentation on cushions already available onoutdoor seating units.
 4. The armrest cover for the outdoor seating unitof claim 2, wherein the ornamentation matches ornamentation on anoutdoor seating cushion sold with the armrest cover.
 5. The armrestcover for the outdoor seating unit of claim 1, wherein each attachmenttie includes a non-slip coating on a surface that makes contact with anunderside of the armrest so as to further reduce slippage of theelongated cushioning pad along the armrest of the outdoor seating unitwhen a user of the outdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongatedcushioning pad.
 6. The armrest cover for the outdoor seating unit ofclaim 1, where the outdoor seating unit is one of: a chair, a chaiselounge, a bench, a love seat, a sofa.
 7. The armrest cover for theoutdoor seating unit of claim 1, wherein the elongated cushioning padincludes: an inner cushioning material that resists mold and mildew; andan outer layer that resist heat and light damage.
 8. An armrest coverfor an outdoor seating unit, the armrest cover comprising: an elongatedcushioning pad having a first end and a second end, the elongatedcushioning pad being shaped and sized so as to cover a top surface of anarmrest of an outdoor seating unit; two attachment straps, a firstattachment strap being attached to the elongated cushioning pad near thefirst end of the elongated cushioning pad, and a second attachment strapbeing attached to the elongated cushioning pad near the second end ofthe elongated cushioning pad, each end of each attachment strap bearinga patch of one of a hook and loop material, and each attachment strapbeing of a length needed to form a hook and loop material connectionunder the armrest of the outdoor seating unit; and a non-slip pad bondedto the bottom of the elongated cushioning pad capable of substantiallyreducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest ofthe outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seating unit restsan arm on the elongated cushioning pad.
 9. The armrest cover for theoutdoor seating unit of claim 8, wherein the elongated cushioning padhas a top surface suited for presenting ornamentation.
 10. The armrestcover for the outdoor seating unit of claim 9, wherein the ornamentationis pre-selected to match ornamentation on cushions already available onoutdoor seating units.
 11. The armrest cover for the outdoor seatingunit of claim 9, wherein the ornamentation matches ornamentation on anoutdoor seating cushion sold with the armrest cover.
 12. The armrestcover for the outdoor seating unit of claim 8, wherein each attachmentstrap includes a non-slip coating on a surface that makes contact withan underside of the armrest so as to further reduce slippage of theelongated cushioning pad along the armrest of the outdoor seating unitwhen a user of the outdoor seating unit rests an arm on the elongatedcushioning pad.
 13. The armrest cover for the outdoor seating unit ofclaim 8, where the outdoor seating unit is one of: a chair, a chaiselounge, a bench, a love seat, a sofa.
 14. The armrest cover for theoutdoor seating unit of claim 8, wherein the elongated cushioning padincludes: an inner cushioning material that resists mold and mildew; andan outer layer that resist heat and light damage.
 15. An armrest coverfor an outdoor seating unit, the armrest cover comprising: an elongatedcushioning pad having a first end and a second end, the elongatedcushioning pad being shaped and sized so as to cover a top surface of anarmrest of an outdoor seating unit, the elongated cushioning pad havingan outer layer made from a non-slip material capable of substantiallyreducing slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along the armrest ofthe outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seating unit restsan arm on the elongated cushioning pad; and a pair of attachment ties orattachment straps, a first attachment tie or attachment strap beingattached to the elongated cushioning pad near the first end of theelongated cushioning pad, and a second attachment tie or attachmentstrap being attached to the elongated cushioning pad near the second endof the elongated cushioning pad, each attachment tie or attachment strapbeing of a length needed to wrap around the armrest so as to form anattaching structure under the armrest.
 16. The armrest cover for anoutdoor seating unit of claim 15, wherein the attaching structure is oneof a knot or a hook and loop material connection.
 17. The armrest coverfor the outdoor seating unit of claim 15, wherein the elongatedcushioning pad has a top surface suited for presenting ornamentation,and the ornamentation is pre-selected to match ornamentation on cushionsalready available on outdoor seating units.
 18. The armrest cover forthe outdoor seating unit of claim 17, wherein the ornamentation matchesornamentation on an outdoor seating cushion sold with the armrest cover.19. The armrest cover for the outdoor seating unit of claim 15, whereineach attachment tie or attachment strap includes a non-slip coating on asurface that makes contact with an underside of the armrest so as tofurther reduce slippage of the elongated cushioning pad along thearmrest of the outdoor seating unit when a user of the outdoor seatingunit rests an arm on the elongated cushioning pad.
 20. The armrest coverfor the outdoor seating unit of claim 15, wherein the elongatedcushioning pad includes: an inner cushioning material that resists moldand mildew; and an outer layer that resist heat and light damage.